12 June, 2000.



Secretary,
Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly,
National Assembly Building,
Independence Drive,
BANJUL.



THE STATE OF GAMBIA, SENEGAL, GUINEA BISSAU RELATION


Governments make policies. The people shoulder the consequences of their
implementation. This is precisely the reason why the people should be
consulted before policies governing the relation between countries are
established.

The vast majority of people in The Gambia want peace. The vast majority of
people in Senegal want peace. The vast majority of people in Guinea Bissau
want peace. However, in these past months it is becoming increasingly clear
that war mongering is becoming the order of the day. Accusations that Guinea
Bissau is rearming its military, threats from Senegal that it has to build
up its military might to confront threats to her territorial integrity, the
death of a member of the Guinea Bissau Armed Forces in Polodi while
allegedly giving training to Gambian soldiers, the deployment of Senegalese
troops close to the Guinea Bissau border, the claim by Alexandre Djiba of
MFDC that President Wade's Government appears to have the aim to wage a full
war in Casamance and that the MFDC forces would resist, all indicate that
subregional peace and security are under  going gravest test since the
military confrontation during the attempt to unseat Nino Vierra.

It is not enough for us to sit down and twaddle our thumbs while the threat
to peaceful coexistence of our people is threatened. It is our duty to
acknowledge the aspirations of our people and come up with such policies
that are likely to foster the realisation of those very aspirations.

In our view, it is the people and not the elites who often pay the greatest
price for war. Leaders are often sheltered while the people become the
cannon fodders who are maimed and killed with impunity.

Finally, it is the leaders who negotiate to end wars and then drink to each
other's good health as they sign peace agreements. We must not allow the
people to continue to perish for nothing.

In our view, foreign policy has mainly been conducted by members of the
executive without the fullest scrutiny by the legislators. It is important
to change the trend.

The Republican Constitution envisages the active participation of the
National Assembly in safeguarding the vital interest of the Gambian people
in conducting foreign policy. Gambian foreign policy should be a very
transparent affair. The National Assembly should ensure that all
international agreements entered into by The Gambia should not undermine the
interest of the people or derogate from its sovereignty.

Section 79, subsection (1) (c) and (d) states categorically that:

"The President shall be responsible for-
"the negotiation and, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, the
conclusion of treaties and other international agreements;
"(d) subject to the prior approval of the National Assembly, the declaration
of war and the making of peace."

Since war or peace cannot be concluded without the approval of the National
Assembly, it is absolutely essential for the National Assembly to be fully
informed of the foreign policy ingredients and initiatives marshalled by the
government.

A proper scrutiny by the National Assembly may bar the country from entering
into any engagement which is likely to threaten the peace of the country.

It is to this effect that the Constitution has accorded to the National
Assembly the power of scrutiny. Section 77, subsection (2) asserts that

"The National Assembly may request the President to attend a sitting of the
National Assembly for the discussion of a matter of national importance."

Subsection (4) adds:

"The Vice President or a Secretary of State shall, when requested by the
National Assembly, report to the National Assembly on any matter concerning
a department or other business of Government committed to his or her charge,
and shall be entitled to attend and speak in the National Assembly whenever
any Bill or other matter concerning such department or business is being
debated."

The National Assembly is empowered under Section 109 of the Constitution to
establish a standing committee on defence and security and other committees
such as the Committee on Foreign Affairs with the view to investigate or
inquire into the activities or administration of departments of the
Government.

It is absolutely necessary for such committees to be active. This is
precisely the reason why we have decided to forward the proposal for your
committee to investigate the relation between The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea
Bissau and the developments regarding the Casamance crisis with the view to
making recommendations regarding the measures the government should take in
ensuring that The Gambia remains a catalyst for the resolution of crisis in
the subregion rather than being absorbed into the crisis.

Your Foreign Affairs Committee could provide an example for other National
Assemblies in the subregion to scrutinise the policies of their own
governments with the view to making recommendations that may influence their
governments to take the right steps to ensure a peaceful coexistence of our
various peoples.

We hope that urgent attention will be given to this proposal.

While anticipating your maximum cooperation, we remain.






............................................
Halifa Sallah
For: The Editorial Board.





cc: Secretary General, Office of the President.

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